Real Wedding

Playful Paradise Cove Wedding: Roberto & Joe

February 13, 2015

Roberto and Joe met at work in 2008. Joe was working as a leader at a theme park and Roberto was working for a third-party contractor. They both caught each other’s eye, but only engaged in casual conversation as both were in relationships at the time. Once both were single, Roberto asked Joe to hang out. They saw Pat Benetar at the House of Blues at Downtown Disney. At the end of the concert, they sat on a patch of grass and talked until the venue kicked them out at 2:00 AM! They have been together ever since that night.

Joe proposed first, presenting a book he made chronicling their relationship. Roberto wanted a chance to propose as well, and did in July 2013.

Both knew that they wanted a beach-type wedding. Roberto’s sister suggested they look at Paradise Cove, which was close to their Orlando home. They fell in love with the atmosphere and the ability to customize everything about their wedding.

Joe comes from a theater background and Roberto is a graphic designer, so customization was a certainty. Their invitations were hand made with Roberto’s graphics. Joe picked quotes from their favorite movies, songs and TV shows, and hand wrote them all on parchment that would become messages in tiny bottles for every guest.

Instead of table numbers, Roberto and Joe named each one after fictional beaches, islands and lakes. Roberto hand drew little scenes that depicted the names, and they placed them on glass bottles, thinking their guests wouldn’t get it. They did!

Roberto’s favorite memory of the day was the food, and Joe’s was his dance with his mom. Also, Roberto’s dad was a world-renowned mariachi musician for 35 years. He and his uncles performed a custom serenade for the newlyweds during dinner.

Roberto and Joe encourage other couples not to take their day and planning so seriously that they forget to have fun.